Safety guard for fabricating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A safety guard for a power press is provided, the press including a conventional ram and upper and lower plates defining a tool and die containing space. The guard comprises a block of sponge rubber or other resilient material which substantially occupies the space and within which the tool and die elements are contained. The block is suitably apertured so that work may be passed through the space and the space is completely enclosed to prevent access by the operator.

U United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,731,573

Jahnke et al. 1 May 8, 1973 541 SAFETY GUARD FOR FABRICATING 2,350,247 51944 Newell ..74/6l2 APPARATUS 1,387,553 8 1921 Miller ..83/544'X l AA,, 1,351,116. 8/1920 Morse ..83/544 [76] Inventors: Earl M. Jahnke, 138Berkley Ave-, 391,558 10/1888 Richardson ..83/397 nue, Elmhurst, Ill.60126; Robert Miller, 63 W. 73rd St., Darien, 111. PrimaryExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz 60559 Assistant Examiner-W. D. Bray {22] FiledFeb 22 1952 r Att0rney-Hilmond O.Voge1 21 Appl. No.: 227,912 1571ABSTRACT A safety guard for a power press is provided, the press 52U.S.Cl. ..83/544, 74/608, 83/397.l, inchdmg afonvemimal and W and 100/5374/612 plates definmg a tool and d1e contammg space. The [51] Int ClB26d 5/08 guard comprises a block of sponge rubber or other 58 d 612615' resilient material which substantially occupies the 1 0 F l spaceand within which the tool and die elements are 51/26 100/53 83/544contained. The block is suitably apertured so that v 545 work may bepassed through the space and the space is completely enclosed to preventaccess by the opera- [56] References Clted ton i UNITED STATES PATENTS10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 2,683,515 7/1954 Horn et al .i.74/61SXSAFETY GUARD FOR FABRICATING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention The field of invention pertains to safety guardsof the type used in fabricating apparatus such as power presses whichcontain tool and die mechanisms.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is replete with safetyguards which are used to confine the safety of a power press withinwhich tool and die elements are positioned. Such arrangements are shownin US. Pat. Nos. 1,256,641, 2,714,926 and 3,293,941 which are familiarlyknown as fence type guards. These may be screens, perforated metal, orvertical adjustable parallel rods, and are of course all employed tolimit or prevent operator access to the working space of the power presswhich can be very dangerous due to the closure of the press ram andplate tool holder relative to the die plate and platen in an inadvertentmanner. Such guards create a safety hazard of their own. Some ifimproperly adjusted create unsafe conditions and fence type guards mustof necessity be placed a distance from the working space creatingproblems for the operator which generally prompts him to remove theguard. Such guards also have little flexibility and must be rebuilt ornewly constructed for different jobs. They are cumbersome and expensiveand for this reason are generally removed by the operator in violationof the safety rules of his employer.

Other types of guards having these problems are disclosed in US. Pat.Nos. 2,089,938, 2,141,027,

SUMMARY- It is the prime objective of this invention to provide animproved safety guard for enclosing the tool and die area in a powerpress to discourage and prevent access by the operator during operation.

The present'invention is inexpensive, simple in construction andinstallation and is foolproof since it completely prevents an operatorfrom reaching into the die space of a power press during the operation.It comprises a block of resilient material placed between the tool anddie plates which define the working space. The block contains aperturesinteriorly thereof which provide for clearance of the tool and diefunction and yet the space is completely closed. During closure of thetool and die plates the block merely bulges and is com pressed,returning to its normal shape after each stroke of the press.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a powerpress including the improved safety guard of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a ram and plate and platenassembly of a power press disclosing a safety guard enclosing the spacewithin which a punch and die arrangement is provided;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the assembly disclosed in FIG.2;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, a powerpress 10 includes a base 11 which is normally supported on or below aconcrete floor. The base 11 carries a base plate or platen 12. An upperslide structure 13 is supported by the base and includes a ram structure14 which is reciprocated vertically by a suitable actuating mechanismincluding a fly wheel, gearing, etc. (not shown). A top plate 15 issuitably secured to the ram structure 14, and a tool holder block orplate 16 is suitably secured to the top plate 15.

A cut-off punch (tool) 17 is connected to and pro jects downwardly fromthe tool holder 16. Similarly perforating punches 18, 19, 20 areconnected to the holder 16. A die member 21 is connected to the platen12 and includes bores 22, 23, 24 and 25, which communicate with scrapdischarge openings 26 provided in the platen 12. Clamp members 27 ofconventional construction secure the die member 21 to the platen 12. Thebores 22 through 25 are provided at their upper 'ends with cutting edgeswhich are conventionally engaged and mated with the tools or punches 17through 20 to perforate or operate on a work piece.

A safety guard is generally designated at 28 and comprises a block orcube 29 of a material such as foam rubber, neoprene, urethane, vinyl,polyethelene, silicon, or suitable other materials having the quality ofresiliency. The material is not limited to any one type and any materialhaving strength to return to its original shape and which forms a blockcontaining walls enclosing the space can be used. It is of courserequired that it return to its original shape after compression, and itis preferred thatait is of an absorbent characteristic. v i

The block 29 includes a front wall 30, rear wall 31, side walls 32, atop wall 33, and bottom walls 34.

The die plate or member 21 also includes a conventional stripper plate36 belowwhich strip stock orwork' 37 is supported as it moves throughthe space provided by the plates 12, 15 and 16. The block 29 includes apassage 38 which emerges in side walls 32 for the passage of the stripstock 37.

The block 29 is also provided with recesses 39 to accommodate the clamps27. The block 29 is further provided with apertures 40, 41, 42 and 43within which the punches or tool members 17, 1 8, 19 and 20 arepositioned.

In the modification of the block 29 disclosed in FIG. 6, walls'45, 46,47 and 48 are positioned in rectangular relationship and areinterconnected by suitable doublesided pressure-sensitive adhesivestrips 49. In this case the aperture 50 accommodates the tool and dieparts andsuitable apertures may be made in the wallsto provide for thestock strip.

A conventional oil reservoir is mounted on the plate 15 and directslubricant through a plastic tube 52 into the block. The tube 52 may liein a bore 53 and may have a plurality of discharge ports 54 which spraylubricant against the tools and throughout the absorbent block.

THE OPERATION The present invention provides for the greatest simplicityof operation and installation. The block 29 is readily formed fromconventional material sizes to the size desired for the particularopening. Or, it may be constructed from narrower strips of material asshown in FIG. 6. In the manner of use shown the block 29 extends fromthe plate 12 upwardly against the tool holder 16 and thus verticaldimension of the space and dimension of the vertical dimension of theblock are equal.

However, the block could also be high and wide enough to cover the toolholder 16 if desired. The die space to be enclosed is determined fromthe nature and construction of the arrangement in order to receivemaximum safety enclosure and yet secure an efficient arrangement foroperation. In most arrangements the apertures for the tools, such as inperforators, may be cut by placing the block in position and loweringthe ram, the perforators thereby cutting out their own clearanceapertures. The openings for stock clearance, etc. can be cut prior tothis operation, but thereafter the guard is in position and the unit isready for conventional operation. As the ram descends the tools movethrough openings in the stripper plate, cut through the stock, enter thebores which have sharp cutting edges at their upper ends, and the scrapis discharged through the holes 26, as the ram again moves upwardly. Asshown in FIG. 4, the block is compressed and bulges outwardly as the ramdescends and this clearly would force an operators hands outwardly wouldhe desire to insert his hands which is unlikely in view of the completebarrier created by the block. The block always returns to its originalshape and position.

The advantages of this invention further lie in the complete safetybarrier which is provided. The noise of the punching operation isgreatly diminished since the foam rubber block retains the noise in anaccoustic sense. Special mounting, necessary in the prior art units, isnot required. The lubrication is expedited and yet is retained in theblock thus causing less danger due to lubrication drippings on thefloor. The foam material absorbs lubricant from the oiler on the upstroke of the ram and releases it on the down stroke internally thusavoiding the mess provided by spray and-brush type of lubricants.

Thus it is believed that the objective of the invention has been fullyachieved by the arrangement fully disclosed hereinabove.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety guard for protecting the operator during the operation offabricating apparatus having a tool holding member and a platen memberpositioned relatively apart to provide a space therebetween, a toolsupported on said tool holding member and projecting into said space, awork holder on said platen, and means for moving one of said memberstoward the other whereby said space is diminished and said tool is movedinto engagement with work supported on said work holder; comprising H .aguard member including a member of resilient compressible materialhaving a solid wall construc tion,

said member beinG supported within said space with said wallconstruction enclosing substantially at least one side of said space toprevent access thereto by the operator, and

said member beind compressed during movement of one of said memberstoward the other.

2. The invention in accoreance with claim 1,

said member comprising a block being relatively solid and said resilientmaterial being of a rubberlike material adapted to return to itsoriginal shape after compression.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2,

' said block including at least one aperture containing said tool, and asecond aperture in said block through which work may be moved, saidaperture being in communication with one another.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 2,

said block having a cube shape and said wall construction including fourwalls enclosing said space on all sides thereof.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 2,

said space having a certain dimension between said tool holding memberand said platen member in an open position, said block contained withinsaid space having a substantially equal dimension before said membersare relatively moved to a closed position and said block is compressed.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1,

including a lubricating tube embedded within said block and includingorifices for directing lubricant to a tool enclosed by said block.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 2,

said block having at least one opening contained therein within whichsaid tool is disposed.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7,

including lubricating means connected to said block for providing alubricant to the interior thereof.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 2,

said block also comprising a material of absorbent qualities andincluding lubricating means 'for directing lubricant to said block to beabsorbed thereby.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 9,

said lubricating nieans including an oil reservoir carried by saidapparatus,

a flexible tube communicating with said reservoir and said block, I

said block having at least one tool containing aperture, and

means on said tube directing lubricant to said block and aperture forproviding lubricant against said tool.

* i I! l 1:

1. A safety guard for protecting the operator during the operation offabricating apparatus having a tool holding member and a platen memberpositioned relatively apart to provide a space therebetween, a toolsupported on said tool holding member and projecting into said space, awork holder on said platen, and means for moving one of said memberstoward the other whereby said space is diminished and said tool is movedinto engagement with work supported on said work holder; comprising aguard member including a member of resilient compressible materialhaving a solid wall construction, said member beinG supported withinsaid space with said wall construction enclosing substantially at leastone side of said space to prevent access thereto by the operator, andsaid member beind compressed during movement of one of said memberstoward the other.
 2. The invention in accoreance with claim 1, saidmember comprising a block being relatively solid and said resilientmaterial being of a rubber-like material adapted to return to itsoriginal shape after compression.
 3. The invention in accordance withclaim 2, said block including at least one aperture containing saidtool, and a second aperture in said block through which work may bemoved, said aperture being in communication with one another.
 4. Theinvention in accordance with claim 2, said block having a cube shape andsaid wall construction including four walls enclosing said space on allsides thereof.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 2, said spacehaving a certain dimension between said tool holding member and saidplaten member in an open position, said block contained within saidspace having a substantially equal dimension before said members arerelatively moved to a closed position and said block is compressed. 6.The invention in accordance with claim 1, including a lubricating tubeembedded within said block and including orifices for directinglubricant to a tool enclosed by sAid block.
 7. The invention inaccordance with claim 2, said block having at least one openingcontained therein within which said tool is disposed.
 8. The inventionin accordance with claim 7, including lubricating means connected tosaid block for providing a lubricant to the interior thereof.
 9. Theinvention in accordance with claim 2, said block also comprising amaterial of absorbent qualities and including lubricating means fordirecting lubricant to said block to be absorbed thereby.
 10. Theinvention in accordance with claim 9, said lubricating means includingan oil reservoir carried by said apparatus, a flexible tubecommunicating with said reservoir and said block, said block having atleast one tool containing aperture, and means on said tube directinglubricant to said block and aperture for providing lubricant againstsaid tool.